Closure for dispensing containers



y 17, 1955 G, s. DETTELBACH 2,708,535

CLOSURE FOR DISPENSING CONTAINERS Filed March 16, 1954 IN VENTOR TTORNEYUnite States Patent 2,708,535 CLOSURE FOR DISPENSING CONTAINERS GustavS. Dettelbach, Atlanta, Ga. Application March 16, 1954, Serial No.416,479 3 Claims. (Cl. 222-498) This invention relates to closure meansfor dispensing containers, and it has particular reference to a closurecap for tubes and the like such as are used for the dispensing packagingof various fluent materials.

One object of the invention is to provide closure means including a capwhich is permanently attached to the tube or other container and which,when the dispensing opening of the container is to be opened, need notbe detached from the container, thereby guarding against its loss.

Another object of the invention is to provide a closure having a cap soformed and so associated with the container that it may be manipulatedby the fingers of the hand in which the container is held to adjust itto open or closed condition.

A further object is to provide a closure cap of the aforesaid naturemade of an inherently flexible or resilient material, preferably one ofthe now widely used synthetic plastics.

Still another object is to provide a closure cap and means for attachingit in optionally adjusted open or closed position upon the neck ordispensing opening forming means of a tube or container whereby, by snapaction inherent in the flexible nature of the material of which it isformed, the cap may automatically sealingly seat itself over thedispensing opening of the container when it is adjusted in closedposition.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a closure cap andmeans for adjustably connecting it with the neck or the like of acontainer or tube so that it may readily be assembled in operativeposition without the use of tools.

With these and other objects in view, the invention comprises closuremeans for a dispensing container, such as a collapsible tube, includinga closure cap member for the neck, or other dispensing opening formingmeans, of such container or collapsible tube; the closure member beingformed from an inherently flexible or resilient material and, due to theflexibility imparted by such material, being capable of seating by snapaction over the dispensing opening of the container or dislodged fromsuch seated condition while being at all times permanently connectedwith the container; means being provided to attain the ultimate effectof such inherent flexibility of the material for most eflicientfunctioning of the closure cap; all as will be explained hereinaftermore fully and finally claimed.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating the invention, in the severalfigures of which like parts are similarly designated,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a collapsible dispensing tubewith the closure means of the invention applied thereto,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 1,

Figs. 3, 4, and are fragmentary axial vertical sectional elevationstaken in the plane of line 3-3, Fig. 2, and respectively showing theclosure member of the in- 2,708,535 Patented May 17, 1955 vention inclosed, partially opened, and relatively fully opened position,

Fig. 6 is a sectional 6-6, Fig. 3,

Fig. 7 is a sectional ber, and

Fig; 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but with the cap portion of theclosure member somewhat modified.

Having reference to Figs. 1 to 7, it will be seen that the dispensingcontainer 1, which is shown as a collapsible tube, has a'neck or spout 2to which the closure member 3 of the invention is applied.

The closure member 3 is preferably formed from an inherently flexible orresilient plastic substance, such, for example, as Styrene and comprisesa cap portion 4 and an integral pair of similar ears 5 provided withsockets 6 (Figs. 6 and 7) complemental to cylindrical lugs or trunnions7 formed on the neck or spout 2 of the tube 1, and adapted to have theirsnap engagement with such trunnions facilitated by lead-in chamfers orinclines 8. By virtue of this connection the closure member 3 ispivotally connected with the neck or spout 2 of the tube 1 and may beoscillated upon its pivots 6-7 from closed to open position by pressureupon a finger piece 9 of a finger of the hand in which the tube is held.

it will be noted, particularly by reference to Figs. 3 and 4, that thepivotal axis of the closure member upon the sockets 6 and trunnions 7 issuch that the cap portion 4 cannot clear the edge of the seating surface10 of the dispensing opening 11 of the neck 2 by simple pivoting actioninasmuch as such pivotal axis is inset from the outer wall of the neckand the turning radius is therefore less than the distance from thepivotal point to the upper edge Hence, in order for the cap portion 4 tobe pivotally unseated, and during such unseating to clear the edge ofthe tube neck, the inherent flexibility of the closure member must berelied on. This inherent flexibility is augmented by providing the ears5 with lateral slits 12 preferably having beaded edges 13 for strengthand better appearance (Fig. 6), and in order to provide the desiredintegrity of the connection of the ears 5 with the cap portion 4 alimited extent 14 of the ears is left intact and an integral rib 15 isprovided to form a flexible connection between the ears 5 and of theseears with the cap portion 4.

It will be apparent, therefore, that the cap portion is made to open andclose with a snap action and that, due to this snap action and itsinherent flexibility or resiliency, it will, when in closed condition,cause its seat member 16 to engage the seating surface 10 of the neckopening 11 with adequate sealing pressure.

As shown in Fig. 8, the cap portion 4 may be fitted to receive aremovable, replaceable sealing disc 17 of paper, cork, plastic or thelike, instead of having its seating member 16 formed as an integral partas shown in Figs. 3 to 7.

elevation taken in the plane of line side elevation of the closure mem-Although as shown in the drawing the neck 2 of the tube 1 is rectangularin transverse cross section, it will be understood that it mightbeformed as a cylinder or otherwise. Alternatively, the neck might be ofrectangular transverse cross section and the dispensing opening 11formed therethrough be of circular, square, rectangular, oval or othertransverse cross section.

Various changes and modifications are considered to be within theprinciple of the invention and the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. A closure member for a dispensing container having means forproviding a dispensing opening, said closure member being formed from aninherently flexible material and including a cap portion shiftablerelatively to said dispensing opening for seated and unseatedassociation with respect thereto, car means integral with said capportion and connecting said cap portion with the means providing saiddispensing opening and serving to restrain shifting movement of said capportion in relation to said dispensing opening, said ear means beingprovided with lateral slits serving to partially separate them from saidcap portion and thus furnishing a limited flexible connecting portionaffording relative flexing movement between said ears and said capportion.

2. A closure member as claimed in claim 1, in which said ear means arepivotally connected with said dispensing' opening forming means.

3. The combination with a dispensing container having a neck providedwith a dispensing opening and seat means in said neck at said opening,of a closure member formed of inherently yie'ldable material and havinga cap portion for seating on said seat means and ear means embracingsaid neck and pivotally connected therewith, said ear means beinglaterally slitted to partially separate them from said cap portion andprovide a limited flexible connecting portion therebetween, said limitedflexible connecting portion serving to provide a resilient snap actionbetween said cap portion and seat means when said closure member ispivotally moved from open to closed position and vice versa.

10 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,804,760 Fox May 12, 1931 2,096,802 Griner Oct. 26, 1937 2,111,186Jenks Mar. 15, 1938 2,444,995 Laing July 13, 1948

